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Cassan Ferguson

Nurturing creativity

Cassan Ferguson
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Nurturing creativity

When you find yourself in a creative career, you soon realise that your job is to constantly create – and if you don’t, you won’t get paid and bills won’t get taken care of. Therefore we push ourselves, work harder, work faster, and creatively mass produce.

With creating and creatively expressing ourselves, we pour out not only creatively but emotionally as well. It can be exhausting and if we are not careful we can very easily burn out creatively and lack the much-needed inspiration to fuel our creativity. Therefore we need to nurture ourselves as a whole, in order to look after our creative side.

Nurture yourself creatively

Is your creative quest draining you, and causing you to lack the inspiration that you need? If the answer is yes, maybe it’s time to do the following:

1. Get outdoors

Breaking routine by getting outdoors and slowing down intentionally will refresh you mentally, emotionally, and physically. Being outdoors or going for a walk is relaxing, it forces you to breathe, and to slow down, which in turn will inspire you creatively.

2. Express yourself differently

Do something creative that refreshes you, just for you, and just because. I’m a freelance writer, so naturally I want to write all of the time. So when I need refreshing I do something different – I will read, or I will take photos as a means of doing something fun creatively. What can you do for fun that will refresh and inspire you?

3. Journal

Because creating can be both emotionally and mentally exhausting, we don’t realise that we need to process those emotions and thoughts. Writing it down helps us to see clearly, to understand, and process our thoughts and emotions more effectively. Journaling is a great way of sifting through and lifting a burden. Journaling makes us feel more in touch with who we are. Often when we feel clouded mentally and emotionally, we then struggle to express ourselves creatively and everything becomes blocked, which in turn stifles our creativity. Why not take a moment to write and reflect on where you are at mentally and emotionally, and see what thoughts come to mind.

4. Start a conversation

Have you ever paused for a moment to have a conversation either with a friend, loved one, or with a stranger without the need of rushing off? When we make time to listen, to give of our time and attention to others, we feel emotionally and mentally more present with those that we are spending time with. Connecting, conversing, and laughing with others is a great way to feel refreshed.

5. Exercise

This area I am still working on, if I had to be honest with you. But I am slowly learning that exercise helps me to de-stress, which in turn sifts out all the tension and leaves me feeling uplifted and powered up with happy hormones.

These are just a few ways in which you can press pause and refresh. If you allow yourself and create the much-needed time and space to nurture yourself and your creativity, you will soon start to feel inspired all over again.

Who do you run to?

Cassan Ferguson
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Who do you run to?

Who do you run to when you feel afraid; when you feel hopeless; when you feel uncertain; when you feel lost; when you feel defeated?

Who do you go to to pick you up? Who do you allow to speak into your soul? Who builds you mentally and emotionally? Who inspires you to dream big and pursue your dreams?

Do you have the right people in your life?

Sometimes, without realising it, we let people into our worlds that break us down. Maybe these individuals are partners, friends, or even family members. They are constantly criticising you; they make you feel small and embarrassed of who you are. They stop you from dreaming; they stop you from moving forward and growing. What is crazy, is that we let it, when in fact we need to put an end to it.

CHOOSE YOUR INNER CIRCLE WISELY

Look at your inner circle and ask yourself if the people closest to you are adding to your life in a positive way. If not, understand and know your worth and value. Know that you deserve amazing friends –and yes, they are out there! Choose friends who love you unconditionally and who want to see you succeed and grow as a person. Be brave enough to upgrade your friends or partners.

THE MAIN VIP MEMBER

People will fail us, and even amazing friends can get it wrong sometimes. But God, our loving Father, never does. He knew us before we were born. He created us with loving detail when we were in our mothers’ wombs. He created us knowing who we would be one day, and what our dreams and passions would be.

God needs to be our main VIP member in our lives. He is the one who reminds us of who we are. He reminds us of our worth and value and He will always build us up. When we understand and get to know His unconditional love for us, we start to move with a bold, Godly confidence. A confidence that inspires, builds, empowers, and encourages not only us, but others around us.

When you feel discouraged or afraid, just know you can run to Him. When you feel lost or confused, you can run to Him. When you feel unsure of yourself, just know that you can run to Him and seek His truth. He will respond to you no matter the situation, no matter the season. You can trust in Him.

Why not start today by seeking Him on a personal level. If you want to chat with someone regarding this, or if you want to know more, then may I encourage you to click on the banner below. We would love to hear from you, and help you.

Choose your battles wisely

Cassan Ferguson
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Choose your battles wisely

Have you ever known someone who seemed to be waging war against everyone and everything? Hey, best be careful not to look at them in the wrong way – just in case you find yourself on the chopping block!

These fighters somehow read into things that are maybe not entirely there or entirely true. Sometimes these folks are offended easily, and may be a tad oversensitive. Their walls go up, their fists go up, and boy, oh boy, their mouths are ready to hurl out dangerous words. They are ready for war, and you better move out of the way fast.

What is interesting is that these individuals are utterly exhausted. Probably because for them every day equates to a battlefield of some kind. It is both mentally and emotionally exhausting. They overthink things, react emotionally, and they do this on repeat. Phew… I get exhausted just thinking about it.

ARE YOU WAGING WAR?

Do you find yourself going to war with everyone and everything? Are you maybe feeling exhausted, and do you want to change your strategy for your emotional wellbeing? Then maybe some of the following tips below can help you move forward.

Stop: Stop for a moment, and ask yourself if what is bothering you is a justified response or a reaction of offence?

Understand: Understand what causes you to feel those things. Is it something rooted in past hurts, fears, or disappointments? Understand your trigger responses to things, and know where it is coming from.

Decide: Decide if this worth getting into a fight over. Is it worth your time? Will it bring change? Is there value in going to war over it? Will the outcome be positive and fruitful? Think before you speak by reflecting on the reason for your action and the outcome that may follow from this.

Speak: If you want to confront someone and you feel that it will bring a positive outcome, then prepare your heart beforehand and know more or less what it is you want to say. Speak to the other person concerned with love, respect, and kindness in your words. If your words come across as hurtful, offensive, or condescending, it may just put the other person off and they may not want to listen to you or resolve issues with you.

CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES WISELY

It can be so exhausting trying to fight every battle, and feel like we are losing all of them. Sometimes we wage war for the sake of waging war, or for the sake of being right, or being heard all of the time. The thing is if we are trying to fight with everyone we will soon push others away from us and feel very lonely.

And yes, sometimes there is a time and place for confrontation that brings about positive change. Before waging war, just pause for a moment and ask yourself if it is worth your time and energy, and understand if it will be helpful and bring about positive results.

Diamond in the making

Cassan Ferguson
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Diamond in the making

Just like a tea bag; you never know how strong you are until you’re in hot water. 

I don’t know about you, but I like my tea quite strong. I will literally beat the tea bag in my cup until it’s dark and rich in colour. Maybe you’re not a tea person and you prefer a strong cup of coffee. Either way, when both contents are placed in hot water, it turns the water into something consumable, something delicious – and it makes you feel good upon every sip, right until the end. Let’s be honest: a dry tea bag on its own doesn’t serve a purpose, just like eating raw coffee beans tastes bitter. In order to get the goodness out of them, it needs to go through a process.

BLESSING IN DISGUISE

The same rings true for us. We often go through trying times, and we feel the pressure from all sides. Life can be overwhelming, and certain seasons can be more stretching than others. But what we forget in those trying seasons is that it is a blessing in disguise.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking:

Wait, hold up, being in a tough trying season is a blessing? 

Let me explain quickly: Normally, when we’re under pressure, we get stretched – and we automatically start to grow in the stretch, if we allow ourselves to. However, sometimes we let the overwhelming season keep us down and we let it consume us. But if we change the way we look at the trying season, and see it as an opportunity to grow and learn new things, it will inspire us to keep our chins up, to take a deep breath, and to carry the season well.

Character is who you are under pressure, not who you are when everything fine.

On the difficult days, when the world’s on your shoulders, remember that diamonds are made under the weight of mountains. 

YOU’RE A DIAMOND IN THE MAKING

Trying seasons have a way of refining our character. Like a precious diamond in the making, so are we. We are rough diamonds in the making. This means we will have to endure a bit of heat – a bit of hot water, perhaps – in order for our characters to grow, and in order for something beautiful to be birthed within us.

When we push through a trying season with courage, it not only blesses us but it encourages those around us to also preserve. Our stories and day-to-day challenges have the power to inspire and influence those around us. Never underestimate the power behind you saying “yes” to a challenge. Your overcoming spirit will not only empower and encourage yourself, but it will do the same for others that are watching you.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5 ESV 

God would never let us go through seasons that he didn’t think we could not handle. He wants us to excel in every season, because He believes in us so much and He wants us to learn and grow in every area of our lives. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your season, just know that you can lean on God , always. His grace , love, and strength will carry you. You’ve got this!

If this post spoke to you and you would like to know more, then may I encourage you to click on the link below. We would love to chat with you!

Are you absorbed with your phone?

Cassan Ferguson
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Are you absorbed with your phone?

I was at a baby shower over the weekend, and very casually I whipped out my phone and started Snap-chatting with one of those hilarious filter images that can either make you look like a goddess or like a bee or something very abstract. Whilst laughing with a friend at our funny Snapchat filters, I saw a few people look at us like we were crazy.

Then I thought about it for a moment:

“Two girls staring at their phones, laughing uncontrollably, pulling faces and posing in strange positions …at a baby shower.”

Yip, we probably did look crazy. We were so involved in what we were doing, that we didn’t realise the eyes that were on us. You see it all the time, especially in public. Friends snapping happy selfies with selfie sticks, Snap-chatting, and doing impromptu photo shoots in public. Others are totally absorbed in their social media accounts, or are playing Pokémon Go until the early hours of the morning.

We are living in a very progressive tech age at the moment. Soon everything is going to be doable and accessible just by the click of a button. There are definite pros and cons when it comes to living in the tech age.

PROS OF TECH-AGE LIVING

  • It can be a creative outlet
  • It’s fun
  • It connects you with others online
  • It’s a great marketing tool
  • Everything is more accessible

CONS OF TECH AGE LIVING

  • We are absorbed on our phones
  • We are less social in person
  • Can’t hold long conversations
  • Easily distracted
  • Exclude others unintentionally
  • Missing moments, due to not being present with others
  • Disconnected from loved ones, because we’re always on our phones.

I love technology, and I love using my phone for various reasons. It’s a creative outlet for me. It keeps me connected to others online, and it’s a great tool for researching on the go. However, I don’t want it stop  or distract me from being social in person or being present in the moment. That may mean being mindful of screen time, and trying to balance being on my phone with putting it away whenever I am with loved ones.

Do you think we are way too consumed with being on our phones, as opposed to be present with others in person? What are your thoughts? I would love to know!

In pursuit of God-given vision

Cassan Ferguson
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In pursuit of God-given vision

Life gets a bit tricky sometimes, doesn’t it? Those unexpected curve balls that are unavoidable; those ridiculous, demanding deadlines; the unexpected and unplanned… all these things can throw us off of our game without us even realising it at times.

We so easily go through the motions that is life, that we don’t stop for a second to reflect on where we have been and where we are still headed. Because we do not take much-needed time to reflect, we end up running around anxiously with a blindfold on. We run straight into things and feel like we have been blindsided  by life itself, or by God. This in turn can leave us feeling frustrated, disappointed, anxious, and lonely.

We forget that God did not design life itself to be difficult. We make it complicated when in fact in can be quite simple. You see, we choose how we live our lives. Yes, of course there will be the unexpected and things that we can’t control – that is a part of life. But we do have a choice when it comes to our attitude towards it, our perceptions regarding it, and the determination to move forward and overcome.

When we have a vision of where we are headed, we have a natural focal point that propels us to keep moving in that direction. When we lose sight of that vision, we run around blindly and in circles, completely exhausting ourselves. But vision always inspires and motivates us to move towards our goal, no matter the situation we are faced with.

Practical steps to help refocus

Write: Write down your vision. The vision for your life, career, family; a vision for you personally and creatively. Look back on what you wrote as a constant reminder of where you are headed.

Break it down: Break your vision down into smaller goals with some sort of working date that you wish to achieve them by. Some goals may be attainable in the short term, whilst others may take a lot longer to achieve.

Practical steps: Do something small that is practical that will lead you closer to these goals. This helps you to gain momentum, and inspires you to keep moving forward.

Believe: You need to believe that God-given dreams, and vision inspired by Him, is there for you for the taking. Believe you are worthy of your dreams, and believe that you are capable of achieving and living those dreams. Do not doubt yourself – God doesn’t!

Speak life: What we speak, we believe. What we speak over ourselves, whether its in quiet or out loud in front of others, has the power to define what we believe about ourselves. Change the way you speak by changing what you believe about yourself.

You’re not alone: My favourite part when it comes to dream chasing, is knowing that I do not have to do it alone. Knowing that God is with me, wanting to help me, guide me, and lead me through it all, gives me that extra bit of confidence and strength that I need to keep pursuing my God-given dreams.

Maybe you have no idea what your dreams are, or maybe you have forgotten them – or maybe you do not believe in yourself enough to allow yourself to dream. Friend, may I just encourage you with the thought that God loves you! He created you with love and with such unique detail knowing that you would be called for greatness.

Why not start today by quietly asking God what He has called you do to specifically ? Ask Him to speak to you personally regarding the vision, dreams, and plans that he has for you. Start by asking Him today… it is never too late to ask Him!

When love leads

Cassan Ferguson
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When love leads

Every day we can choose to let love lead. Love can lead our conversations; love can empower; it can encourage; it can inspire; it can refresh; it blesses others; it inspires hope and courage. When we let love lead from the smallest of things through to the biggest of things, we let love ultimately win in our everyday.

However, loving freely without reservation or without conditions, isn’t always easy. Sometimes we hold back from loving others, maybe due to previous offences or disappointments, or maybe we don’t think others deserve our love or our time. Or maybe, just maybe, we only show love if know we will receive it back tenfold.

The world needs love

At the moment, in and amongst the beauty that is life, we are going through world-wide devastation. People are desperately trying to leave their countries as a means of saving their children, and families are losing family members because of terrorist attacks. This world-wide pain that we see or experience firsthand can cause us to feel fearful and anxious. We automatically do not trust others, think the worst of others, and we become closed off and reserved in openly sharing our love with others.

Let love lead

We are living in very interesting times, yet we need to fight back by choosing to love, by letting love lead us as we move forward together. We need to let love shine a light on darkness. We need to let love heal those who are broken. We need to let love bring about change and justice. We need to let love inspire, uplift, encourage, and bring about hope in the broken. We need to let love lead our conversations, where we speak with words filled with hope, courage, and forgiveness. This kind of love is a choice.

Love suffers long and is kind; love envies not; love flaunts not itself and is not puffed up, does not behave itself improperly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;  rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

Let’s stand together in love and fight back the darkness with love together. Let us always choose this kind of love, and be part of a love revolution. Who is with me?

It’s in the stretch

Cassan Ferguson
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It’s in the stretch

Do you ever feel like you are going through a season where your character is being refined and stretched? Man, oh man, those seasons can be tough to walk through. It’s like a constant stretching of character, and just when you think surely this is it, something happens and you need to stretch along with it.

I’ve recently been going through a season where it feels like this ongoing rollercoaster of back and forth moments where I am being stretched in character like never before and just when I think it’s about to stop, something comes up and I am left feeling like I am being stretched in all directions.

God prunes us when He is about to take us into a new season of growth and expansion. – Christine Caine 

Those stretching moments can be very uncomfortable, tiring, overwhelming, and disappointing. Yet, in the stretching it’s kind of comforting to know that it’s an opportunity to grow in character, and it’s an opportunity to prepare for the next season that lays before us.  

I believe that God takes us through seasons that help to shape us and prepare us for bigger things. I also believe that God would not put us in seasons that He did not think we could overcome or grow in. Every season is a season where we can grow closer towards Him, and He does this because He loves us and wants nothing but the best for us. 

If you find yourself (like me) in a trying season, see it as an opportunity for you to grow in character. Trust that Gods plans for you are only for your good, plans that will bring hope into your situation and plans that will bless you going forward. Just know that God is with you in and through every season. Lean on Him and let Him walk with you through this season. Never forget with God all things are possible! You’ve got this, my friend!

If this post spoke to you or would like to find out more about being in a relationship with God, I’d like to encourage you to click on the link below.

The many benefits of laughter

Cassan Ferguson
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The many benefits of laughter

When last have you gotten carried away in a moment and felt like you were bursting with laughter? The reason I ask is because sometimes we get so serious. As time passes, and we become older and have more responsibilities, we lose that side of us that wants to let go, be silly, and just laugh… just because.

We don’t need to find a reason to laugh and have fun, and we shouldn’t “schedule” in a fun moment. Laughter and joy should be found in our day to day. Don’t get me wrong – I am not saying you have to be a stand-up comedian and make jokes all day. Rather, what I am saying is find little moments where you can make that work colleague smile, or meet up with a friend who makes you laugh, or create moments with your family where you can be silly and laugh together.

There is something very powerful when we share in a joyous moment with others, or when we find a reason to laugh and smile. It lifts our spirits, which in turn gives us that refreshing energy that we need to keep our heads and hearts lifted when enduring tough seasons.

BENEFITS OF LAUGHTER

Did you know that laughter is good for your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing ? Here’s a closer look at how laughter can make a positive impact not only on yourself but on those around you:

Physically

  • Boosts immunity
  • Lowers stress hormones
  • Decreases pain
  • Relaxes your muscles
  • Prevents heart disease

Mentally

  • Adds joy and zest to life
  • Eases anxiety and fear
  • Relieves stress
  • Improves mood
  • Enhances resilience

Emotionally

  • Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Shifts perspective
  • Refreshes you emotionally

Socially

  • Strengthens relationships
  • Attracts others to us
  • Enhances teamwork
  • Helps defuse conflict
  • Promotes group bonding

Joy in our hearts strengthens us in trying seasons. It also lifts our hearts, gives us fresh perspective, and makes us feel happy and light in spirit. Joy and laughter is  contagious, and sharing in that joy with others is not only a blessing to you but to those around you. Try finding little moments in your day to day where you can incorporate a little bit more joy and laughter! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Step into the light

Cassan Ferguson
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Step into the light

Sometimes we go through seasons that leave us feeling trapped. Disappointments, hurt , fear, shame, and guilt sits with us and weighs on us. What’s more is that in those dark moments, we become silent, and secretly let those thoughts and emotions eat away at us. We feel as though we can’t verbalise it, because maybe we feel ashamed; maybe we fear feeling misunderstood; or maybe we feel like we don’t want to burden others with our problems. Maybe, just maybe, we even think we can man it on our own.

WHEN THE DARKNESS CRIPPLES US

When we choose to live like this, we allow ourselves to live in a very lonely, isolated, and dark space. Those dark spaces have the power to emotionally cripple us and will prevent us from moving forward and overcoming trying seasons. Even though I am a Christian and I believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit does not mean that I have it all together, and that my life is perfect. We are all human, and life gets real and it can be a hard world to live in sometimes. There are days where I move forward with hope, courage, love, joy, and confidence, knowing that God is with me through it all. Then there are times where my default setting is to withdraw, isolate myself, and  let my fearful, anxious thoughts get the better of me.

STEP INTO THE LIGHT

However, when I hit a low like that, I know I need to lift my head and heart heaven-ward. I know that I need to step through those dark spaces and move towards the light, towards God. When we decide to step up and out of those dark spaces, something starts to change within us. Our hope, faith, and courage starts to build as we move forward holding onto the very presence and promises of God.

Deciding to move forward requires an action from us. It requires us to get up on a mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual level. Every determined step to move closer towards living in the light will build up our faith, hope, and courage. Which in turn will change our attitudes and perceptions regarding our situations. It will give us the courage to forgive and let go; it will empower us to speak and declare life over our situations.

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13

Don’t let your darker seasons confine you. Be brave enough to step into the light and to take a step towards God. If this post spoke to you and you would like to know more about living in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then click on the link below.

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